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Sunday, October 31, 2010

It was the witching hour, and our sidewalk mysteriously became a portal... Seventeen children and fifteen adults gave us the high honor or trick or treating this year. We cherish each and every one. Our treats were ready; the porch and yard lights lit... My camera snapped each one.... Too soon, over.... Each year the kids get taller and taller... and memories grow brighter... I adore Halloween!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Wonderful day today. Mom and a couple of friends joined me for lunch at a restaurant near the Amish country. Then we traveled through and bought some fresh homemade rolls, cinnamon rolls and bread that was still warm from the wood oven.. It is delicious. We got some bread and butter pickles, apple butter, and Mom got some tomatoes and sorghum molasses. Home for a little party and time for bed. Tomorrow will be lunch with my son, his friends, and his lady-love. I'm making a casserole and salad, broccoli, corn... we're having pumpkin pie and the hot rolls from the Amish.. Sound good? Come on over for Halloween!!!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Each morning in October I grab a piece of my treasured Halloween jewelry, and I think about the misty morning ride that awaits me as I venture off to school... While I never, I mean NEVER ride to school on my broom, October's moors of Missouri still greet me and howl me into the day's enchantments. The moon is usually slipping slowly down the western horizon as the sun just barely pierces the eastern hills. The setting is divine, and I relish the idea of holiday sweaters, jewels... decorations... I love these charm necklaces, created and sold by Joy at Cupid's Charm. I also love to sip a little cup of hot coffee spiked with pumpkin creamer.... I sing myself along the morning route before I meet and greet my students for the day.

Today as I walked into my classroom, I met ghouls, faeries, ghosts, gangstahs,...... biker Ma babes.... a little of this and a little of that... A couple of surly dudes just couldn't get into the swing of Halloween or English Usage worksheets and were completely OUT of the holiday spirit.... The day dragged a little, I must admit... Could it be we had finally had enough fun? Most of my students were fixated on the treating and the tricking that lies ahead... We muddled through it, and finally the day ebbed into a glorious weekend....

Enjoy your Saturday and let yourself experience a truly fun and safe Halloween... May the spirits be good to you.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Only 8 more days until Halloween... I made the run for Halloween treat this morning. I had hoped to take Mom along and eat out at our favorite little restaurant. She didn't get to come with me, but tonight we had a tv marathon in my room. She hadn't been down the steps in over two weeks... So that was an accomplishment...

While I was out, I decided it was time to repair a little damage I'd done pulling off my solar nails with my teeth!!! Ouch! They looked horrid, so I went in to the nail salon for another set. I know... I know... extravagant. But pretty nails ooze the "oh so so very" elegant to me... probably because I had never indulged myself until my dear friend "gifted" me with a manicure about ten years ago.... Since then, I have allowed myself that luxury only a few times... Today I felt the need for some coddling... I enjoyed watching the other clients in there. I saw an elderly woman probably in her 80's. Her nails were fabulous red... The norm wasn't that posh, overly made up woman... Actually I saw a lot of women who seemed really tired. I decided they must have all needed some coddling today, too.

Then, I made it official. I got my hair cut like Victoria Beckham... longer in front and short and stacked in back. There the resemblance comes to a halt. She is so cute... But the hair was a start. Mine isn't this dramatic... more of a forward angle, not quite this "POSH SPICE" look... but posh for me... I had cut my own hair for the past three years. I found a method that worked for me, but I must admit, this feels much more "kempt." (That IS a word, isn't it? haha...)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

I know that all of you do many, many things for your friends and family. Let me tell you that all we do for each other is GREATLY for the good of those of us who are swimming in deep water for a little bit... Today was Doll Club, and although I was supposed to be cooking away today for my mother and I to host it, it was not to be. Due to Mom's health, we just couldn't do it. On the spur of the moment our dear friend *and reader of this blog took on the responsibility of having club... I know her house was beautiful... I went to school today, and Mom stayed home.. We both felt bad because we really enjoy the October meeting (it's the one with the presents for secret pals)...

Our friends who attended the luncheon dropped off our gifts during the afternoon before I got home from school, and they visited Mom a bit and brought the festivities to her. What a treat. During the day a dear friend thoughtfully brought me by her Italian Salad... I think she knew I was feeling a bit down and out with my lonely little peanut butter sandwich and thermos of hot coffee... I mean, I would have been stewing and foo-fooing up a storm, but we weren't..

Then, after I got home and Mom and I were having a little bite of Schwann's Sweet and Sour Chicken (yum-o!)... the hostess of Doll Club, our dear friend... arrived with treats and delicacies from the meeting. She brought pumpkin pie, fruit punch, candies, cookies, bonbons, sugared nuts, mints.... and her delightful presence to cheer us... What a treasure!

Then my cousin arrived, and we had an impromptu party with all the goodies.... That was such a treat... All in all, Mom didn't feel a bit left out today, and we SO much appreciated everyone's kindness.

I had experienced that kind of day at school that makes a person just want to throw in the towel and give up. Frankly, some of the coworkers and powers that be were just plain rude to me. There is a way to help someone out when they make an error (computer grade error) and there is a way to make them feel as if their blunder just crashed two 747 airliners... Two of my colleagues chose the aircraft treatment... but luckily one sweet lady who works very hard on all the grades told me it was a two minute fix...

She was so kind and helpful and sweet... It made it all worthwhile.. My point to all this rambling is that our actions and our reactions mean so very much, both to the good and to the debilitating... We have it in our power to bring life or a numbing dread... May I always try to bring that light and life into the lives of others, helping them to soar on wings like Eagles... and may I forgive freely when I meet up with the turkeys... Amen...

Microwave butterscotch morsels and semi-sweet chocolate morsels in large, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Spread over cereal mixture.

Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes or until topping is firm. Cut into bars.

Makes 30 bars.

Halloween makes me think of these easy but oooooh so wonderful cookie bars. My room mate in college made these every weekend, and we were always sooo happy to have cookies in our bottom dresser drawer. My grandma always sent her Delicious Cookies, and I have temporarily lost that recipe. (It doesn't matter because it never tastes as good as hers anyway...)

With my cat aglow, and the room filled with candles, my "lair" is becoming quite a witching paradise... I will try tomorrow night to capture some of the glow but alas! my camera batteries were haunted tonight... I'm lucky to get this picture.

Enjoy the season... The moon glows through my west window in the wee hours of the morning when I sneak off for a few winks before school time arrives. My College Prep class finished reading The Crucible today... such psychologically and spiritually powerful dialog... I love it. We're watching the movie tomorrow.

Friday, October 15, 2010

This weekend... ??? Last week...??? Not too certain where the time has gone or what's in store. As I have mentioned, Mom is definitely not up to par, so much of the week has been spent with things about getting her well. I stayed home with her today to help her have a better day. Not a bad day for hooky... They don't get much prettier than October days such as this. I am rearranging furniture tonight... just a little. Here at Mom's it is harder... Everything is really REALLY squeezed in, and I have found it is usually better to leave it alone. I am a real believer in mixing it up, so my room is the only one I scramble around.

Monday, October 11, 2010

It is magical to be grateful. Cielo's beautiful post today says it all. It is her birthday at House in the Roses, and I am linking to Show off your Cottage Monday.

I see these beautiful candles glowing through the night as I go about my rituals through bedtime and beyond. I love the night, the autumn, the dark... But today in the morning's clouds rays of sunshine drink straws of pure silver from the earth--- and that's pretty phenomenal, too. It is a late morning as I took Mom to the dr/hospital for tests. It appears she has gout which is really painful. Our good doctor is under the weather but dedicated and present to help his flock... I'm off to try to do the same with my kiddos...

Wow. Sunday my son was babysitting for three children under age nine. I guess he had taken care of them every evening all weekend. He decided it would be an amazingly great idea if we all met at Burger King for lunch so the kids could play in the playground. So, good sport that she is, my mom decided to go (and pay) despite her sore ankle and leg (we don't know what's wrong).... So for our meeting time at noon, Mom and I arrived twenty minutes early, AS always... The kids, my son, his lady love, two more friends.... 12:30. We went in and found a seat. Crestfallen face on my son.

"Could we move to the little room with the playground in it?" Well, sure. Limp hop and jump... we all transferred in there (you have seen cats herded, have you now?)... Orders organized, the kids and my mom and I stayed with the slides and kids....... and we waited for EVER in that really loud room... The computers were down... The orders were backed up.. His Royal Highness Burger King never learned to write or talk... just push buttons... We were at a stalemate.

My son' girlfriend had to be at work 35 miles away at the Moberly Rest Home where she nurses... at 3... I looked at my watch. 2:15, I sadly told her... Amazed faces... They gathered all their charges and the finally arrived meal and took off, leaving Mom, me, and the two friends.. We promptly moved from that room. Alas, although it is soundproof, it does no good if you are on the inside looking out...

Then I get the phone call... It is only1:15.... Apparently I can't tell time on a round clock.. either... My little "new" grandson? grinned at me when they walked back in, "Ma!" he yelled, "Do you need to go back to kindergarten?" At least we had time to enjoy each other (and get out of that room!)..... That is until I dumped a little white vat of ketchup upside down in my son's friend's shoe top.... Yeah... I don't get out much, and now we all see why!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Well, I finally did it.. I participated in my first swap. Karla, the beautiful... from Karla's Cottage fame... she did it actually. She called for us to make six tags and swap for six.. the topic, none other than one of my all-time favorites, The Wizard of Oz... I couldn't resist... I told her I'm in... then I chickened out and told her I was out... then I felt so sad for so long, and she generously gave us so much time to finish the tags... so I told her I was in... (felt like Project Runway)..... My tags I sent her are at the bottom, and this week, oh, Hallelujah!! I was the glad recipient of my tag book. It was fantabulous and so much fun... She makes it all so easy. I think she is simply amazing... Check out her blog and the process she uses to do a swap.. I loved it, and it was painless!

She did all the covers, and they are super cute. I love the little Toto tag that is removable....

You can almost hear Dorothy singing here... "Somewhere OVER the Rainbow..."

I am a witch aficionado... This is beautiful.

This classy tag is my Mom's favorite!!!! So clever...

Can't you imagine thinking lovely thoughts.....

And this witch is absolutely stunning... The lace just makes it fantastic.

The big button and cute houses on this one are so clever...

And Karla added the cutest charm at the bottom... a glittery red sparkly shoe... How cute it that?
---------------------------- below the shoe are my tags that I sent to Kansas to be divided and made into books for other swappers....